Sometimes pottery takes you away from the familiar and into pure experimentation. This piece grew out of curiosity — what would happen if I joined several wheel-thrown forms and pushed them beyond their usual symmetry? The result is a large sculptural vase with movement and flow, caught somewhere between structure and spontaneity. Creating a unique ceramic vase in clay is an exciting experience.

Building the Form

Instead of throwing one vessel, I threw several cylinders, each one sized to stack and join together. Once they reached the leather-hard stage, I carefully attached them, creating a tall column of clay.

That’s when the fun began — twisting, pressing, and coaxing the form into curves and undulations. The piece lost its perfect roundness and began to take on a fluid, almost spiralling motion. It felt less like controlling the clay and more like letting it suggest the next step.

Glazing the Curves

To emphasise the movement, I used multiple glazes — six or more — sprayed in layers that followed the curves of the form. Each band of colour highlighted a different line or twist, almost like painting with glaze.

The palette of ochres, greens, and neutrals flowed into one another, echoing landscapes and shifting light. The glaze didn’t hide the form — it revealed it, bringing out every turn and ripple in the clay. Using six or more glazes, each sprayed in layered bands, the piece hints at techniques also found in experimental crystalline pottery glazes.

Why Experimentation Matters

Working this way is a reminder of why I love clay. It’s unpredictable, risky, and sometimes pieces don’t survive. But experimentation pushes boundaries. It asks: What happens if I let go of control? What if a ceramic vase doesn’t have to be round, or symmetrical, or even strictly functional?

These questions keep the work alive and evolving.

The Finished Piece

The finished, unique ceramic vase stands tall with a sense of motion frozen in clay. It isn’t just a vessel; it’s a record of exploration — of testing the limits of what wheel-thrown and joined forms can do.

Whether displayed as an art object or admired for its process, it captures that mix of curiosity and craft that makes pottery endlessly fascinating.

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You may also enjoy:

• The Journey of a Handmade Mug

• The Magic of Crystalline Glazes